The Yorkshire Coast & Moors

Famous for its seaside towns of Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and Bridlington, the coast of Yorkshire has an amazing variety of wildlife habitat on its doorstep, all within easy reach for a 4 day tour. We begin this holiday with a day on the Yorkshire coast visiting the towering chalk cliffs of Flamborough and Bempton where almost half a million nesting seabirds flock to during the breeding season, including Britain’s largest mainland Gannet colony. We will also visit Filey Dams Nature Reserve and the surrounding farmland countryside where Corn Bunting and Tree Sparrow still maintain healthy populations.

Our second full day will be spent exploring the North York Moors National Park, to the north of Scarborough. Here Red Grouse share the heather moorlands with breeding Golden Plover, and the possibility of Merlin. Also in this area, small boggy streams are home to a variety of insects, including the elusive Large Heath butterfly. Included in the park is an extensive forest centred on the village of Dalby where Crossbills are numerous and various scarce birds of prey such as Honey Buzzard may be seen.

We will have the opportunity to visit prime Nightjar habitat where we can listen to their strange ‘churring’ calls and maybe witness their eerie shapes in the dark as they chase after moths. Roding Woodcock are also likely to appear at dusk, adding to the magical experience.